SoCal woman battling rare disease receives liver transplant from surprising donor

A Southern California woman battling a rare disease was in need of a liver transplant. Now, she's received the gift of life from a very surprising donor -- an old friend.

A photo shows Tawny Drain on the day that would change her life.

While at Rio Hondo Preparatory School in Arcadia, Tawny was diagnosed with Caroli Disease, a rare inherited disorder marked by an enlarged liver, kidneys and spleen. The pain worsened over the years.

"My liver has lesions on it. The bile ducts don't work," Tawny said. Tawny needed a living liver donor. Months would pass but then in June she got a call from Keck Hospital of USC. They found a match.

MORE: SoCal woman battling rare disease in search of liver donor

A Southern California woman is battling a rare disease that could eventually cause liver failure and is in desperate need of a transplant.

Tawny says her immune system is still weak as her body accepts the new organ. Her overall recovery is expected to take six to nine months.

The former CrossFit instructor hopes to eventually return to the gym, not only to work out but to teach others.

"I just makes me want to live my life a lot better. I want to do something to impact other people now that she's saved my life," Tawny said.